Box creasing and folding machine



June 26, 1945. A. w. WERNER BOX CREASING AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ETOR. Mw WMTZTO R Ng? June 26, 1945. A, W WERNER 2,379,127

BOX CREASING AND FOLDING MACHINE File'd March 6, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. I @ai MM Y I ATTORNEY@ June 26, 1945. A. w. WERNER BOX CREASING AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTR; 2%

ATTO RNEYQS.

Patented June 26, 1945 Arthur W. Werner, Milwaukee, Application March 6, 1942, Serial No. 433,549 Claims. (Cl. 93-49) This invention relates to improvements in box creasing and folding machines, and more particularly to a machine adapted to operate upon blank sheets of berboard or corrugated board so as to fold opposite end portions of the sheets 5 toward one another as a step in the manufacture of containers.

Heretofore, in attempts to provide mechanical folding devices, difllcultieshave been encountered because a straight fold could not'be insured. As 10 a result it was necessary to provide a squaring device for squaring the folded portions before stitching or otherwise securing the ends of the blank together. Even with such squai'ng devices a perfectly true, squared container did not al- 15 ways result. This was particularly noticeable when operating upon corrugated board, because the corrugations therein are not always exactly parallel to the desired line of fold, and in folding such corrugated board there `is `a tendency y for the board to fold on a line coinciding withy a corrugation rather than on the desired score line. It is a general object of the present invention to provide in a device of the class described meansv whereby a positive and straight fold by a meohanical folder is assured, and wherein the necessity of further squaring the foldedlolank is elir'ninated.'

A further object of the inventi'onis toprovide a device wherein a previously scored'blan-k of,

corrugated board may be additionally creased onf said score lines in sucha. mannerfasto provide f for a perfectly straight and `square fold-regardless of the position of the corrugationswith respect to the position of the crease on which' the fold is to be made.

A further object of the invention is to perform said additional creasing by the use of creasing rolls having a novel form especially adapted for the described purpose.

A more specic object of the invention is to 40 provide a creasing and folding machine which includes a set of specially constructed endless chains for each crease, one chain being .an upper or anvil chain, another chain being a lower or chain which is inclined upwardly and positioned at one side of the carrier chain. The forming chain travels with the blank and serves to preliminarily bend an end portion of the blank at right angles while the blank is being conveyed and while the crease line on which the fold is being made is positively engaged by the specially shaped and angular-ly disposed links of the anvil chain in a way to insure a perfectly straight and square fold.

wheel adapted to bear against the upwardly bent` end portion of the blank immediately adjacent the line of foldso as to aid in providing a definite and permanent fold in the blank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine as above described including recipro eating folding arms for performing the final folding operation, such arms operating continuously through such an arc that no stop motion is necessary to insure positioning of the next incoming boxblank, vthere being means for conveying the completely folded blank out of the folder.

A still furtherobject of the invention is to prom vide means providing for quick adjustment of the various endless chains and mechanism associated therewith in order to adapt the position thereof to the particular blank to be folded.

With the above and other objects in View, t .e

invention consists of the improved box creasing and folding machine, and all its parts and com..

'binations as set forth in the claims. and all complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view or the improved 'device,: showing a fragment of a feed hopper et one end and a fragment lof an additional box making machine at the other end, the adiusment sprockets and some of the endless chains being indicated by dot-and-dash lines so as not to hide other portions of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a ,t0n view of the improved machine with the box forming unit on one side shown partially in horizontal longitudinal section, and with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a smaller fragment Gamer chain, and the third being a forming 5 on a still larger scale to show the cooperation of the various endless chains with the crease line of the box blank; f'

Fia'. 6 is a. sectional vview on anenlarged scale 5 une s-s of Fig. 3;

squared nal box.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line III- I0 of Fig. 2;

Fig, 1l is an enlarged fragmentary edge view of one set of creasing rollers; and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a typical box blank.

Referring to the drawings, upright side frame members I5 adjacent the entrance end of the machine are secured in suitably spaced relation by a lower tubular cross member I6 and by upper tubular cross members I1 and I8. Elongated side frame members I9 have one end suitably secured to the upright frames I5 and are additionally supported by legs 20. The rear ends of the side frames I9 are secured in suitably spaced relation by a channel-type cross member 2 I, and there are additional tubular cross members 22 and 23 which connect the side frame members I9.

A hopper 24 for box blanks, of standard construction, is suitably connected to the entrance end of theimproved machine, and this hopper has mechanism associated therewith for automatically feeding blanks, one at a time, from the bottom of a stack supported on the hopper table through a space 25 beneath the lower edge of a hopper front plate 26.

These blanks 21 (see Fig. 12), are formed of either solid fiberboard or corrugated board, and the machine is particularly adapted to operate on blanks which have already been slotted, as at 28, and scored. as at 29, 30, 3I, 32 and 33, 'Ihis type of blank is adapted to form either a square or rectangular shipping container having four side walls with bottom and top forming flaps connected to said Walls by the lines of scoring 32 and 33. The blanks are adapted to be fed into the machine in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 12, with the idea of folding the two end-most sections of the blank toward one another on the score line 29 and 3|. After folding, the free edges of the blank are either taped together, or in the case of a blank having a stitching flap, are stitched together. The taping or stitching operation, however, forms no vpart of the present invention as the present invention is concerned with mechanical folding on the lines 29 and 3I in such a way as to insure a, perfectly In view of the fact that the preliminary score lines 29 and 3 I, when on corrugated board, do not insure that later mechanical folding will follow said score lines rather than closely adjacent corrugations, which corrugations may be slightly out of line with the desired line of fold, the present invention provides means for additionally creasing on the score lines 29 and 3l of the rblank.

This means consists of lower creasing rollers 34, and upper creasing rollers 35 (see Fig. 6) The lower creasing rollers 34 are rigidly mounted on hub portions 36, which hubs are splined to a lower creasing roller shaft 31 so that the creasing rollers may be driven by rotation of the shaft 31 but are nevertheless laterally adjustable on said shaft. The upper creasing rollers 35 are similarly mounted on hubs 38 which are splined to an upper creasing roller shaft 39. The lower shaft 31 is driven in a manner to be hereinafter explained and has a gear 4D thereon which engages a gear 4I on the upper shaft 39 to drive the latter.

Referring to Fig. 1, the ends of the lower shaft 31 are journalled in bearing blocks 42 which are vertically adjustable in guideways 43 in response to manipulation of adjustment members .44.. Thus the lower shaft 31 may be adjusted up and down to.accommodate various thicknesses of stock be' ing creased.

Referring to Fig. 2, a pair of bottom longitudinally extending brackets 45 are slidably supported on the tubular cross members 22 and` 23. The bracket 45 on one side may be adjusted in a transverse direction by means of threaded adjustment screws 46 which cooperate with threaded openings 41, and on the other side the corresponding bracket 45 is similarly adjustable by separate adjustment screws 48 (see Fig. 3). The forward end of each bracket 45 has a bearing extension 49 through which the hub 38 of the adjacent creasing roller 34 rotatably extends. Thus adjustment of the brackets 45 will cause corresponding movement of the creasing rollers 3,4.

Referring again to Fig. 3, each bracket 45 has a rotatably mounted stud 50 near one end carrying a sprocket wheel 5I, and a rotatably mounted stud 52 near the other end carrying a sprocket 53. The sprockets 5I and 53 on each side of the machine are connected by endless carrier chains 54 having link elements 55 which are channel-shaped in cross section, as shown clearly in Fig. 5. These link elements have flat top surfaces and form a bottom carrying support for the blank 21. The link elements ride on elongated guides 54 which are adjustable to vary the pressure on the bottom of the blank through screws 55'.

The end of each stud 52, which is Vopposite to the sprocket 53, carries a rigidly mounted gear 56 (see Figs. 2 and 3), which is driven through an idler 51 by another gear 58, which latter gear is driven by a shaft 59. v

Referring to Fig. 9, the gear 58 is mounted fast on a hub portion 60, which hub is splined on the shaft 59 so that the hub is driven by the shaft when the latter is rotated but is nevertheless adjustable along said shaft when the bracket 45 is adjusted in a transverse direction. The hub 60' also carries a sprocket wheel 6I and a spiral gear 62,

The spiral gear 62 drives a gear 63 mounted rigidly on a shaft 64 which extends at right angles to the shaft 59 and which is rotatable in a bearing 65 formed on a bracket 66. The bracket 66 has another upwardly extending bearing portion 61 within which the hub/66 is rotatable, as shown in Fig. 9..v Referring to Fig. 10, the shaft 64 carries on its projecting end a disk 68 having an eccentric pin 69 thereon. This pin cooperates with a block 10 slidable in the slot 1I of the arm 12 of a gear segment 13. Through engagement of the gear segment 13 on both sides of the machine with the gears 14 connected to the folding arms 15, the folding arms are adapted to be oscillated from the dotted line positions of Fig. l0 to the full line positions therein.

The upper chain assemblies are supported by means of spaced arms 16 which are adjustably slidable on the tubular cross members I1 and I8. The adjustable sliding movement of the arm on one side is accomplished by a screw member 11 which cooperateswith a threaded opening 18 in the arm, and the arm 16 on the other side is adjustable independently by rotation of a similar screw 19. The screw 11 has an unthreaded end portion extending rotatably through the frame member I5 and has a sprocket 80 on its outer end. The sprocket is connected by an endless chain 8l with a sprocket wheel 82 mounted on an end of the lower screw 46. Another sprocket wheel 83 connected with the screw 46 is connected by an endless chain 84 with a sprocket wheel 85 attached to the other lower adjustment screw 46. One of the screws, such as the last screw 46, may be provided with an operating end 86 which may be operated either by a hand crank or by power ries the sprocket I I5 drives the final conveyor driven mechanism to cause adjustable rotation chain I|3, as heretofore described. The main of the screws 46 and 11, one one side of the madrive shaft H6 also carries a sprocket wheel |24 chine simultaneously. Thus both the upper and which is connected by an endless chain |25 with lower adjustable assemblies on one side of the 5 a sprocket wheel |26 on the shaft 59. 'Ihe gears machine may be moved simultaneously toward 58 on the shaft 59 through the idlers 51 and gears or away from the center of the machine to adapt 56 drive the sprocket wheels 53 for the lower carthe position of the creasing rollers and the upper rier chains 55. In addition the sprocket Wheels and lower chains to the particular box blank. 6I, driven by the shaft 59, drive the side forming On the other side of the machine the screw 19 l0 chains I|2. Also the gears 62 (see Figs. 9 and and the two screws 48 are similarly equipped 10) on the shaft 59 drive the oscillating arms 12 with sprocket wheels 81, 88, 89, and 90 connected which operate the folders 15. One end of the by endless chains 9| and 92. On this side of the K shaft 59 also has a sprocket wheel |21 mounted machine also there may be a manually or power rigidly thereon which is connected by an endless operated end 93 on one of the screws 48 to pro- 15 chain |29 with a sprocket Wheel |29 rigidly vide for rotation of the two screws 48 and the mounted on the lower creasing roller shaft 31. screw 19 simultaneously. Thus the upper and Thus the creasing rollers are driven, and also lower adjustable assemblies on this side of the through the bevel gears 91 and 96 adjacent the machine may also be moved toward or away from creasing rollers the drive shafts 95 for the anvil the center line of the machine. 20 chains |0I are driven.

The upper arm 16 on each side has a depending bracket 94 carrying a bearing at its lower 'Operation l end though which a Shaft 95 is loumaued The In operation, the screw operating members 93 shaft 95 has a bevel gear 96 on its forward end and 86 on each sido are operated llo-move the which is driven by a cooperating bevel gear 97 25 chain assemblies toward or away from the center formed on the hub 38 for the creasing roller 35. une of the machine so that the creasing rollers Each arm lt also Supports a bracket assembly une up perfectly with the score unes 2s and al 98 including upper and lower guldeways 99 and of the blank 21 of Fig. 12, or with the correspondfor the endless anvil chain IOI (see Fig. 7). lng score lines on any other sl'ze box which may The anvil chain 0| travels around tilted sprocket 80 be fed` The blanks 'are' then fed automatically wheels |02 and |03 (see Fig. 2), which are rotatafrom the hopper 24 luto the bite of the creasing bly Subbbl ted at Opposite elldS 0f the bracket 98- rollers, as indicated in Fig. 6, with the creasing Rigldly mbllllted bn the Stud |04 0f each Sprocket rollers coinciding exactly with the score lines 29 Wheel w3 ls a bevel gear |05 Wlllch ls dflvell by and 3| of the blank. The upper creasing rollers a bevel gear |06 mounted on the inner end of 35 are formed with beads |30' (see pls ll), Whlch the shaft 95. Said end of the shaft is supported have hat external perlpherles and tapered sides lll a bearlllg bracket lol baffled by tbe upper I3|. The lower creasing rollers are formed with Chain Supporting bracket assembly 98- a groove |32 Ihaving tapering sides |33, which The lOWeI Slidable bracket On each side Of groove cooperates the Shape of the the machine supports a smaller bracket |08 (see 40 Thus when the blank passes through the' creas- Flg 3l Which latter Supports a Stud "la The ing rollers a relatively wide crease line is made sprocket wheel |I0 is rotatable on said stud. Anover the previous score lines 29 and 3l and ln Other Sprocket Wheel lll ls also rotatably Supperfect alinement therewith. The structure of Dbl'ted 0n an lntefmedlate Portion 0f eaCll .lOWel s the creasing rollers is such as to break down the bracket 45- All endless forming @hall-'1 "2, 0l fluted layer of corrugated board so that there is folding member (See Flg- 1), extends around the no tendency for the blank to be later folded along Sprocket Wheels ||0,. |II and 5I .and -is driven by the line of a corrugation rather than along the the sprocket 6| which 1n turnl 1S drlven by the line of a score line. As the forward edge of the shaft 59. so blank passes through the creasi'ng rollers, it is After the blank leavesythe carrier and anvil supported on and conveyed by the fiat upper chains. it is adapted G0 be conveyed through the sides |34 of the channel-shaped special links of flnal folding DOltiOh 0f the machine and `OIllJO an the carrier chain 55, as shown in Fig. 7. At the attached box-making machine by an endless same time the lower reach of the anvil chain I0I.` chain II3 rotatable around sprocket wheels I I4 55 engages the top side gf the blank, as shown in and H5 and driven by the sprocket H5 which iS Fig. 7. The special links of the anvil chain have rigidly mounted on a driven shaft IIS. The upv-snaped portions which converge to a. rounded per reach of the endless chain II3 is adapted t0 point |35, and on each side of the rounded point pass on top of a chain guide I|`I, and said chain the special links are concaveas at |36 (see Fig. may be provided with spaced upstanding flights 5). The rounded points |35, which extend at an I I8 which are engageable With the rear edge of 60 angle, engage in the crease lines 29 and 3| of the the blank to push the same along. As the blank blank to maintain the blank in a perfectly squared is being conveyed by the Chain H3, the edges 0f condition. Inasmuch as both the carrier chains the blank are Supported and guided in angles I9 and the anvil chains are traveling with the blank, (See Fig. 10), and the blank as it enters the angles the blank is maintained in properly alined posipasses beneath the upturned ends of flat sup- 65 tj porting strips I2|. When the upstanding ends of i carrier and anvil chains because of the peculiar the blank are moved by the fOldihg arms t0 shape and angular disposition of thelinks of the the full line position of Fig. 10, the foldable poranvil chains. Also, because of the angular positions fold on top of the strips |2|, and said strips 70 tion, the anvil chains tend to withdraw from the form a support beneath the folding arms to preblank Without injuring the latter. As the overvent downward bulging of the blank. hanging end portions of the blank approach the The drive for all of the parts may be traced as forward end of the forming chains I|2, which follows: An endless chain |22 from a suitable chains extend/at an incline upwardly, as shown source of power drives a sprocket wheel |23 on in Fig. l, the/ said chains cause forcible folding the main drive shaft II6. 'I'his shaft which car- 7" of the overhanging end portions of the blank from chains, so that there is the position of Fig. 'Z to the position shown in Fig. 4. This folding of the end portions of the blank to the 90 position of Fig. 4 is bound to be directly on the desired score lines 29 and 3| because of the structure and cooperation of the links of the carrier chain, anvil chain, and forming chain, as shown in Figs. i and 5. The outer portions of the links of the forming chain H2 are rounded as at H3 to avoid damage to the blank during original engagement of the forming chains therewith. By referring to Fig. 5 it is apparent that the links of the anvil chain with the rounded point |36 and with the concavities |35 fit the score line and the portions of the board on each side thereof with perfection and form a die for the folding operation. On each side of the device there is also a rotatably mounted pressure wheel |31 (see Fig. S), which has its periphery angled downwardly as at |31'. These pressure wheels rotate only by virtue of the pressure between the wheel and the moving box blank and serve to definitely and permanently set the fold so that the portions of the box blank which have been folded upwardly to the position of Fig. 4 will not tend to spring ,back after the blank passes out of the nip of the forming and anvil chains.

As the blank leaves the latter chains its forward edge is guided by the down-turned ends |38 (see Fig. 1) of the angle guides I I9 so that the .box blank with upwardly projecting ends enters between the angles lla, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10. Next the folding arms 'l5 operate to move the partially folded end portions of the blank to thefull line position of Fig. 10. These folding arms of course operate in timed relationship with the movement of the blanks so that each downward stroke of the folding arms engages a new blank after the previously folded blank has been carried out of the machine by the flights l I8 cf the final conveyer chain I 3.

It is of course understood that the laterally adjustable assemblies on the two sides of the machine correspond part for part with each other. and any description with respect to the assembly on one side of the machine applies to the corresponding assembly on the opposite side as well.

It is apparent from the above that no squaring of the folded portions of the blanks is required, and it is also apparent that the novel structure of the carrier, anvil, and forming chains is such as to insure a positive fold which is straight and true. It is further apparent that in the case of a corrugated boxthe special creasing rollers cooperate to prevent the fold lines from following the corrugations of the board. It is also to be noted that the forming chains angle downwardly at the point where the blank leaves the forming a minimum of chaiing of the blanks. The use of the pressure wheels, which are formed of rubber or material, tends to set ythe 90 fold so that the folded portions will not tend to spring back before being completely folded by the action of the folding arms 15.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that varicus changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a box making machine, means for conveying box blanks through the machine, an endless folding chain having a portion movable upwardiy at an incline from a position below the other resilient f the carrierfito a position plane of the blank being conveyed to a position thereabove, said endless folding chain having links shaped and positioned to cause folding of a portion of the blank, each link having a first relatively broad portion initially engageable from below with the portion of the blank to be folded and having a second portion engageable from the side with the folded portion of the blank as the folding progresses, and means for holding other portions of the blank against upward movement while said folding is being performed.

2. In a box veying box blanks through the machine, an endless folding chain having a portion movable upwardly at an incline from a position below the plane of the blank being conveyed to a position thereabove, said endless folding chain having` links shaped and positioned to cause folding of a portion of the blank, each link having a first relatively broad portion initially engageable from below with the portion of the blank to be folded and having a second portion engageable from the side with the folded portion of the blank as the folding progresses, and a movable endless chain having links shaped to hold other portions of the blank against upward movement while said folding is being performed.

3. In a box making machine, an endless cai'- rier chain having links provided with relatively flat top portions. on which box blanks are supported for movement through the machine, an endless folding chain having a portion movable upwardly at an incline from a position below the carrier to a position thereabove, said folding chain having links shaped and positioned to cause folding of a portion of the blank which ovcrhangs the carrier chain, each link having a first relatively broad portion initially engageable from below with the portion of the blank to be folded and having a second portion engageable from the side with the folded portion of the blank as the folding progresses, an endless chain engageable with a portion of the top of the blank to hold the latter down on the carrier while the over-hanging portion is being folded, and means Vfor driving said endless chains.

4. In a box making machine, an endless carrier chain having links on which box blanks are supported for movement through the machine, an endless folding chain having a portion movableupwardly at an incline from a position below thereabove, said folding chain having links shaped and positioned to cause folding of a portion of the blank which overhangs the carrier chain, each link having a first relatively broad portion initially engageable from below with the portion of the blank to be folded and having a second portion engageable from the side with the folded portion of the blank as the folding progresses, an endless chain engageable with a portion of the top of the blank to hold the latter down on the carrier while the overhanging portion is being folded, said last meritioned endless chain having links formed with a cross sectional shape to conform to the desired fold angle and thereby form a shaping die for the folding operation, and means for driving said endless chains.

5. In a box making machine, an endless carrer chain having links on which box blanks are supported for movement through the machine, an endless folding chain having a portion movable upwardly at an incline from a position below j making machine, means for concause folding of a portion of the blank which overhangs the carrier chain, each link having a rst relatively broad portion initially engagei able from below with the portion of the blank to be folded and having a second portion engageable from the side with the folded portion of the blank as the folding progresses, an endless chain engageable with a portion of the top of the blank to hold the latter down on the carrier while the overhanging portion is being folded, said last mentioned endless chain having links which are il-shaped in cross section to form a shaping die for the folding operation, and means for driving said endless chains.

6. In a box making machine, a carrier member on which box blanks having score lines extending in the direction of movement of the blanks are supported for movement through' the machine, an endless folding member having a portion movable upwardly at an incline from a position below the carrier to a position thereabove, said folding member being positioned to cause folding on a score line of a portion of the blank which overhangs the carrier, an endless member engageable in a score line to hold the blank down on the endless carrier and prevent lateral shifting of the blank while the overhanging portion is being folded, said member having a portion which is V-shaped in cross section with the apex of the V engaging in the score line of the blank sprocket wheels around which said endless member travels, at least one of said sprocket wheels being rotatable in a plane which forms an acute angle with the plane of the folded portion of the blank, and means for driving said carrier and endless members.

7. In a box making machine, a carrier member on which box blanks are supported for movement through the machine, an endless folding member having a portion movable upwardly at an incline from a position below the carrier to a position thereabove with the line of movement oi' the endless member continuing at an incline after it passes the plane of the carrier, said foldingA member being positioned to cause folding of a portion of the blank which overhangs the carrier member, an endless member engageable with a portion of the top of the blank to hold the latter down on the carrier while the overhanging portion is being folded, means'for driving said carrier and endless member, and a resilient pressure roller positioned to be engageable peripherally with the folded portion of the blank after it has been folded at approximately right angles and while the blank is moving to set the fold, said resilient pressure roller being rotatable on a fixed axis.

8. In a box making machine, a pair of transverse rotatable shafts one above the other, two spaced sets of creasing rollers mounted on said shafts for lateral adjustable movement, means between said shafts and rollers for driving the latter, an endless conveyor forwardly of each set of creasing rollers for conveying box blanks which have been creased by said rollers, a movable endless anvil member above each endless conveyor engageable with the upper surface of the blank in the crease line formed by said creasing rollers, an endless folding member on each side of the machine having a portion movable upwardly at an incline from a position below the plane of the blank being conveyed to a position thereabove, said folding members being positioned to cause folding of portions of the blank on said crease lines, and means for laterally adjusting the set of creasing rollers, the endless conveyor, the endless anvil member, and the endless folding member on either side of the machiner simultaneously.

9. In a lbox making machine, a pair of transverse rotatable shafts one above the other, two spaced sets of creasing rollers mounted on said shafts for lateral adjustable movement, means. between said shafts and rollers for driving the latter, an endless conveyor forwardly of each set of creasing rollers for conveying box blanks which have been creased by said rollers, a movable endless anvil member above each endless conveyor engageable with the upper. surface of the blank in the crease line formed by said creasing rollers, an endless folding member on each side of the machine having a portion movable upwardly at an incline from a position below the plane of the blank being conveyed to a position thereabove, said folding members being positioned to cause preliminary folding of portions of the blank on said crease lines, oscillating folders for subsequently moving said preliminarily folded portions of the blank to fully folded position while the blank is being conveyed, and means for' laterally adjusting the set of creasing rollers, the endless conveyor, the endless anvil member, the endless folding member, and the oscillating folder on either 4side of the machine simultaneously. A

10. In a box making machine, means for conveying box blanks through the machine, an endless folding chain having a portion movable upwardly at an incline from a position below the plane of the blank being conveyed to a position thereabove, an edge of thev top of eachlink of the endless folding chain being rounded laterally into the blank engaging side of the link to provide for smooth progressive transfer of blank contact from the top of the link to the side as the folding progresses, and means for holding other portions of the blank against upward movement while said folding is being performed.

11. In a box making machine, a carrier member on which box blanks are supported for movement through the machine, means for folding a portion of the blank to a position at an angle with respect to the remainder of the blank, an endless member engageable with a portion of the blank to hold the latter the rst mentioned portion of the blank 'is being folded, said endless member forming a shaping die for the folding operation, and sprocket wheels around which said endless member travels, at least one of said sprocket wheels being rotatable in a plane which forms an acute angle with the plane of the folded portion of the blank so that the endless member may travel out of engagement of the blank without crushing.

12. In a box making machine, a carrier member on which box blanks are supported for movement through the machine, means for folding a portion of each blank to a position at an angle to the remainder of the blank, an endless chain engageable with a portion of the top of the blank to hold the latter down on the carrier while the blank is being folded, said endless chain having links which are V-shaped in cross-section to form a shaping die for the folding. operation, sprocket wheels around which said endless chain travels, said sprocket wheels being rotatable in a plane which forms an acute angle with the plane of the folded portion of the blank so that the shaping links may travel out ,of engagement with the blank, after folding has been accomplished without causing crushing.

down on the carrier while Y 13. In a box making machine, a pair of transverse rotatable shafts one above the other, two spaced sets of creasing rollers mounted on said shafts for lateral adjustable movement, means between said shafts and rollers for driving the latter, a carrier forwardly of each set of creasing rollers for conveying box blanks which have been creased by said rollers fmovable endless anvil members engageable with the upper surfaces of the blank in the crease lines formed by said creasing rollers, means on each side of the machine Ior folding portions of the blank on said crease lines, and means for laterally adjusting the sets of creasing rollers and the endless anvil members simultaneously.

14. In a box making machine, means for conveying box blanks through the machine, an endless folding chain having a portion movable upwardly at an incline from a position below the plane ot the blank being conveyed to a position thereabove, each link having a portion shaped to provide for original engagement with the blank without mutilation and to provide for transfer of blank contact from the top of the link to the side as the folding progresses, and means for holding other portions of the blank against upward movement While said folding is being performed.

15; In a box making machine, a carrier member on which box blanks are supported for movement through the machine, means for folding a portion of the blank to a position at an angle with respect to the remainder of the blank. an endless member engageable with a portion of the blank to hold the latter down on the carrier while the first mentioned portion of the blank is being folded, said endless member forming a shaping die for the folding operation, and wheels around which said endless member travels, at least one of said wheels being rotatable in a plane which forms an acute angle with the plane of the folded portion of the blank so that the endless member may travel out of engagement of the blank without crushing.

ARTHUR W. WERNER. 

